Causes of stress vary on a personal level. The factors or events that cause stress are referred to as stressors. Negative things come to mind when we think of stressors. We think of a work schedule that is exhausting or a rocky relationship. However, sources of stress or stressors can describe anything that is demanding and takes away your peace. Positive life events that can be causes of stress include marriage, buying a house, chasing a promotion, or going to college among others.
Contrary to popular belief, stressors are not only caused by external factors. They can be internal, where you generate them by yourself. A good example is when you worry yourself about things that may not even happen or when you have irrational and negative thoughts about life. Your perception plays a huge role in determining what stresses you. Your causes of stress may not be another person’s stressors. What causes stress to you does not necessarily cause someone else the same stress. They may even be things that other people find enjoyable.
Examples of common causes of stress
A good example would be getting terrified of speaking in public. On the other hand, there are people who enjoy the spotlight. Another example would be people who thrive working under pressure compared to people whose bodies shut down when work demands increase.
A final example would be chores and responsibilities that some may term stressful such as caring for elderly parents.
External causes of stress include major life changes, fights in relationships, pressure to perform at work or in school, and financial troubles among others. It’s recommended to find out the external causes of stress and buy a stress monitor app to check stress levels caused by these external factors.
Internal causes of stress include pessimism, negative self-talk, rigid thinking, an all-or-nothing attitude, inability to accept uncertainty, and perfectionism among others.
Signs and symptoms of chronic stress
It’s challenging to identify stress because of how easily it creeps in on you. Owing to the constant pressures of life, you then get used to it to the point where it feels familiar and normal.
At this point, you are not able to see how much effect it has on you, even as it gets to levels that are harmful to your health. Knowing the common warning signs, therefore, becomes very important. They are divided Into cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms
The cognitive symptoms include Lack of concentration, poor judgement, memory problems, negativity, anxiety among others.
The emotional symptoms include depression, feelings of agitation, irritability, isolation, and feeling overwhelmed.
The physical symptoms include body ache, diarrhea or constipation, dizziness, a rapid heart rate, low sex drive, and frequent colds. Can stress cause high blood pressure? Yes, there is a possibility of high blood pressure when stressed.
The behavioral symptoms include loss of appetite, loss of sleep or too much sleep, procrastination, neglect of responsibilities, drug abuse in order to relax, and nervous habits such as pacing among others.
